Pepsi Vending Machine Art Contest encourages Oklahoma’s youth to draw on artistic talents to express ideas for conservation action, eliminating litter.

 

This spring, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, in partnership with Pepsi and Aquafina, are inviting all Oklahoma students, K-12, to participate in this year’s annual Pepsi Vending Machine Art Contest happening now through Saturday, April 22, 2023. Students have an opportunity to win prizes including gift cards from OKC Outlet and Zoo memberships as well as having their original artwork displayed on a Pepsi vending machine at the Zoo for an entire year!

Young artists are encouraged to draw inspiration from this year’s contest theme, Make Oklahoma Litter Free for Wildlife, and create original art that illustrates the importance of keeping Oklahoma’s natural spaces litter free for its wildlife.  

We can all do our part to keep Oklahoma clean and green! The OKC Zoo and Pepsi hope this contest engages students to become advocates for the natural world around them by expressing their ideas for eliminating litter through art and awareness. Litter has a direct impact on all living things and waterways, and by disposing of trash and recycling properly you are contributing to the conservation of Oklahoma’s wildlife and land. Recycling litter also helps divert recyclable trash away from landfills and conserves resources plus, it can be done anywhere - home, school, work or in your community. OKC Zoo and Pepsi are proud promote recycling to Zoo fans by providing recycle bins throughout the park for easy disposable of plastic and aluminum containers. 

As a conservation organization, the Zoo strives to inspire students and all Oklahomans to take conservation action each and every day with the help of technology. Using the interactive app, Litterati, individuals, students, community groups and organizations can track litter collected in their areas. App users then photograph a piece of litter and upload the image along with the location of where it was found to the Litterati data base. Participation is free. Learn more at www.litterati.org.

Oklahoma students in grades K through 12 are eligible to enter the Pepsi Vending Machine Art Contest through their school, home school, civic/volunteer groups or on their own. Contest designs will be judged on creativity, originality, meeting art specifications and relevance to the contest theme. Official entry forms and complete contest details are available online at www.okczoo.org/pepsicontest. Entries become property of the Oklahoma City Zoo must be postmarked by Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Both contest grand prize winners, one for K-5 division and one for 6-12 division, will receive a $300 gift card to a select OKC Outlets store and their illustration will become the cover art of a Pepsi machine in the Zoo’s entry plaza for an entire year to be viewed by thousands of Zoo patrons. Winners from all award categories will receive a certificate and have their designs on display at the OKC Zoo and OKC Outlets. Contest details and entry forms will are available on the Zoo’s website, www.okczoo.org/pepsicontest.

Oklahoma students, CAN we count on you to get creative for conservation and enter the Pepsi Vending Machine Art Contest? Enter now at www.okczoo.org/pepsicontest. The Oklahoma City Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District and an Adventure Road partner. Regular admission is $16 for adults and $13 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free.

Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Support your love and passion for wildlife and wild places with a ZOOfriends Membership Passport to the OKC Zoo. There’s a membership level for every kind of explorer with amazing benefits plus, you are supporting the OKC Zoo, its animals, programs and conservation efforts. Memberships can be purchased at okczoo.org/membership.

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